Clamping mechanism



Patented GE. 31, 1922.

s SHEETSAHEET 1.

CLAMPING MECHANISM.

APPLlcAloN man FEB.1|,1921.

W. M. BROWN AND H. FfA. KLEINSCHMIDT.

W. M. BROWN AND H. F. A. KLEINSCHMIDT.

CLAMPING MECHANSM.

APPLxcmon man FEB.1|,1921.

T 2 .D 2. wm www www. un vMU Y MM W. M. BROWN`AND H. F. A. KLEINSCHMIDT.

4 CLAMPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED mm1, 1921.

Patented oct. 31,1922

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- /NvE/VTOHS WM. 550w/v.

Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

UNITED STATES 1,433,600 RATENT oFFlcE.

WILLIAM MILTON BROWN AND HENRY F. A. KLEINSCHMIDT, OF JOHNSTOWN,

PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAMPING MECHANISM.

Application led February 11, 1921. Serial No. 444,252.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM M. BROWN and HENRY F. A. KLEINSCHMIDT, citizens of the United States, and residents of Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamping Mechanisms, of which the following is a sp uification.

This invention relates to clamping mechanisms, and more particularly to a clamping mechanism constructed and arranged to engage and force the abutting ends of two separate articles together into close contact or to engage a single article at separated points in its length and exert a force tending. to compress the article or, on occasion, tending to pull the article apart.

In the particular application of the invention to be described, the mechanism is made for use in forcing the abutting ends of two track rails together in the process of uniting the rail ends by electrically butt-welding.

One object of our invention is the provi sion of a clamping mechanism having anovel arrangement f parts whereby the clamps are caused to seize the article or articles t0 be engaged and are. detached therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping mechanism of improved construction having novel means whereby the clampsV thereof are relatively moved after seizing of the article or articles held thereby, in applying compression or tensile stresses to the clamped article or articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping' mechanism having improved means whereby the clamps are moved toward and away from each other, after the clamps have gripped the article or articles to which the mechanism is operatively connected.

Still another object of our invention is the provision of a clamping mechanism having wedges forming means for gripping the article engaged thereby, and having novel means whereby the Wedges are easily and quickly detached in disengaging the clamp from the clamped article.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby a mold is held on the clamping mechanism, in operative position about the joint between two articles in the grip of the clamping mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping mechanism having improved means whereby the apparatus is made usable on rails and like materials of varying slzes, and whereby the center line of the side rods of the apparatus and plungers of the iuid pressure cylinders are kept approximately in a plane coincident with the horizontal center line of the rails -or other articles engaged by the, clamping mechanisms.

Still further objects of our invention will be made apparent hereinafter in the detailed description thereof, and be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is atop plan view of the clamping apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation.

Figure 4 is a front end elevation.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line V-V of Figure l:

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 4:.

Referring particularly to the drawin s, the letter A, in a eneral Way, designates t e fixed clamp, andgB the adjustable clamp of our improved clamping mechanism, and C is the ydraulic casting or block which is rigidly connected to the clamp A by side rods B. The clamp B is slidably mounted on the side rods D so as to permit of a. relative approach of the clamps in operating the apparatus.

The hydraulic cylinder C is provided with two separate and independently operated hand pumps 2 and 3, one being a high pressure pump, and both of which are adapted to force fluid into the hydraulic cylinder C to operate or force the plungers or rams 4: and 5 outwardly for a purpose hereinaffter described. The pumps 2 and 3 are provided with operating handles 6 and 7 respectively, by which the pistons of the pumps are reciprocated.

The cylinder C has an integral boss or lug 8 on each side thereof adapted to receive the one end of the side rods D forming part of the frame of the apparatus. These side rods D are reduced in cross section at their ends so as to form shoulders 9 and project through the lugs 8 and are screw threaded for the reception of nuts 10, which rigidly hold the cylinder in position against the shoulders 9 of the rods D.

The rods D also support the U-shaped clamping members A and B, which are constructed and arranged so as to hold the articles to which force isy to be applied, these clamping members being provided with integral bosses or sleeves 1l on each side thereof, through which the rods D project.

The rods D also have the other ends thereof, the ends remote from the hydraulic cylinder C, reduced in cross section so as to form shoulders 12a. These reduced ends of the rods D extend through'holes in the bosses or lugs 11 of the U-shaped clamp A, and 1nsulating sleeves 33 and insulating Washers 33a are provided, which insulate the clamp A from the rods D. Nuts 12 on the threaded portions of the reduced ends of the rods D are screwed against the clamp A to tightly hold the clamp in posltion agalnst the shoulders 12,

The clamp B is slidably mounted on the rods D between the clamp A and the hydraulic cylinder C. The clamps A and B are U-shaped in cross section and of the same general construction, and therefore a detailed description of one will be sufficient and like reference numerals will be used to designate like parts thereof.

rll`he U-shaped clamps each comprise a top portion 13 and integrally formed side portions 14, 15, the clamp being adapted to embrace or fit over the rail D or other object to be operated upon. The inner face of the side port-ion 15 is vertical and extends parallel with the vertical axis of the rail, designated in the drawings by the letter X, and the side portion 14 has an upwardly inclined face.

Filler blocks 17 and 18, shaped to fit the contour or side surfaces of the rail X, are arranged between the sides 14 and 15 of the clamp, and the side faces of the rail, and a` third filler block 19 shaped to fit the top or head of the rail is arranged between the top face of the rail and the top 13 of the clamp, being secured in position by the kev 20..

The abutting faces of the side 15 and filler blocks 17 are grooved to receive a lengthwise horizontal clamping wedge 21, the wedge 21 being adapted to tighten the block 17 on the rail as the clamping members A and B are moved toward each other by the plungers 4 and 5, which engage the rear faces of side portions 14 and 15 of movable clamp B as they are forced out by the fluid from pumps 2 and 3 of the fluid pressure cylinder C.

rlhe side 14 has a centrally arranged groove 23 cut in its inclined face to receive the tongue 24 on the vertically movable wedge member 25 which is fitted between the side 14 and the filler block 18.

A link 26 pivotally connects the upper end of the wedge 25 and the actuating lever 27, this lever having its forward end pivoted to a connecting web 28 between the sides 13 and 14 of the clamp, andl has its rcar end terminating in a handle 29. The link 2() has an impact receiving head 26 mountcd on its upper end to receive the blows' from a sledge or other tool in disengaging the wedge 25, this head being removable so as to allow its being renewed from time to time.

After the wedges 21 have been forced into position by moving the clamps A and B toward each other, they are firmly locked in position and ordinarily very hard to release. 'Howeven the release of these wedges is made easy by the vertical Wedges 25 which are forced downward hystriking the impact receiving headl of link 26 with a Sledge or other such tool, thus releasing the pressure on the clamp and allowing ready removal of the' wedge 21.

'Wedge 25 is adapted to be forced into and held in position by a block 30 pivotally mounted on the top 13 under the actuating lever 27 and having a tapered slot 31 in its upper face for the reception of a wedgeI 32 adapted to force the lever 27 upward as it is driven home, thereby drawing wedge 25 upward into wedged engagement with the filler block 18 and side portion 14.

After the clamp B has been moved along the rods 9 toward the clamp A it is adapted to be returned to its normal position by a windlass composed of a spindle or shaft 35 iournaled in bearings 36 on the hydraulic cylinder C, and having an actuating head or disk 37 on its one end provided with a plurality of sockets or apertures 38 for the reception of a lever bar or other suitable tool used to rotate the spindle.

Eyes 39 are secured in the rear faces of the side portions 14 and 15 of the clamp B and chains 40 have their one end secured thereto and their other ends secured to spindle 35 of the windlass.

After the clamp B has been moved toward clamp A by the plungers of the hydraulic cylinder C and it is desired to return it to its normal or rearward position, the windlass is rotated by inserting a lever har or other tool in the sockets 38 of the head 37, and turning it, thus Winding or coiling chains 40 on the spindle 35 until the clamp B is brought to the desired position.

When the device is to be used in the operation of welding rail ioints` a mold securing or mounting mechanism is carried on the bars D adapted to hold a suitable clav mold in position around the rail point. and contacts or binding posts 41 are provided on the upper surface of each of the clamps A and li. Since clamp A is insulated from the rods D it will be seen that opposite pole currents will nass into the respective rails held by each of the clamps A and B.

The mold comprises side bloc-ks 42, top

block 43, and bottom block 44, all of which are composed of clay or similar material, and the bottom and side blocks being provided with suitable metal wear plates 45.

Suitable rocker bars 46 having curved cam-like heads 37 are pivotally mounted on the sidebars D and adapted to be forced or wedged against the side blocks of the mold to hold them in position, and arms 48 are mounted for vertical adjustment in slots in the rocker bars 46 and adapted to be engaged under the bottom block of the mold to secure it in position.

The rocker bars are forced against the side block of the mold and the arms 48 are tightened against the bottom block by a screw rod 49 having a threaded engagement with the upper end of the arm and having its lower end terminating in a bearing crosspin adapted to bridge the slot in the rocker bars and bear against said bars.

After the rocker bars 46 and arms 48 have been adjusted to their approximate position, they are forced home and made to firmly grip the mold blocks by screwing down the screw rods 49, thus drawing up the arms 48 and forcing down rocker bars 46 against their respective mold sections.

From the Vabove it will be readily seen that we have provided an improved mechanism for clamping and applying endwise pressure to articles, and a mechanism that is especially applicable for use in forcing the ends of two abutting rails together when butt-welding rail joints.

Vhile we have illustrated and described one embodiment of our invention in detail, it will be understood that we do not wish to be limited to such details, since many modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

llVe claim l. A clamping apparatus comprising in combination a pair of side rods, a pair of clamping members, one of4 said clamping members being'rigidly secured on said rods and the other of said members being slidably mounted on said rods, a hydraulic cylinder rigidly secured 0n said rods and adapted to apply pressure against said slidable clamp ing member to move said clamping members toward each other.

2. A clamping apparatus comprising in combination a pair of side rods, a pair of clamping members, one of said clamping members being rigidly secured on said rods adjacent their one end and the other of said clamping members being slidably mounted on said rods, a hydraulic cylinder rigidly secured adjacent the end of said rods opposite from said first named clamping member, said cylinder being adapted to apply pressure against said slidably mounted clamping memberv to move said clamping members toward each other, and means for separating said members.

3. ln a clamping device adapted to force and hold the abutting ends of two rails or:

the like together, a pair of clamping members adapted to be moved toward each other, cach of said members having a vertically disposed wedge anda horizontally disposed wedge, said horizontally disposed wedge being adapted to tighten as said clamping members are moved toward each other, and means for moving said 'clamping members toward each other.

4. In a clamping device adapted to force and hold the abutting ends of two rails or the like together, a pair of clamping members adapted to be moved toward each other, each of said members having a vertically disposed wedge and a horizontally disposed wedge being adapted to tighten as said clamping members are moved toward each other, and a hydraulic cylinder for moving said clamping members toward each other.

5. In a clamping device adapted to force and hold the abutting ends of two rails or the like together, a pair of clamping members adapted to be moved toward each other, each of said members having a vertically disposed wedge and a horizontally disposed wedge, said horizontally disposed wedge being adapted'to tighten as said clamping members are moved toward each other, a lever mechanism for operating said vertically disposed wedge, and means for moving said clamping members toward each other.

6. In a clamping device adapted to force and hold the abutting ends of two rails or the like together, a pair of clamping members adapted to be moved toward each other, each of said members having a vertically disposed wedge and a horizontally disposed wedge, said horizontally disposed wedge being adapted to tighten as said 'clamping members are moved toward each other, a lever mechanism for operating said vertically disposed wedge, means for operating said lever mechanism to force said wedge home, a hydraulic cylinder for moving said clamping members toward each other, and a Windlass mechanism for separating said members.

7. The combination with a clamping device adapted to force and hold the opposing ends of two rails together for welding, comprising a pair of side rods, a pair of clamping members adapted to move toward each other, and means for moving said clamping members, of a -mold supporting means supported on said rods and adapted to hold a mold in position for welding said rail ends together.

8. The combination with a clamping device adapted to force ,and hold the opposing sisl ends of two rails together for welding9 oomprising a pair ofside rods, at pair of clamplng' members adapted 4to move toward each other, insueting means for preventing eleotrioal communication between seid clamp ing members, and means for moving said clamping members toward each other, of an adjustable mold supporting mechanism mounted on said rods and adapted to hold a mold in position for forming a welded l0 joint between said rails.

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands.

WHJLIAM MWLTN BROWN. HENRY F. A.. KLEINSCHMDT. 

